tammi white, LCSW

Before transitioning into outpatient therapy, Anna worked for several years as a school social worker. Her school-based background provides her with extensive experience in special education, Section 504 plans, behavioral intervention, school-based mental health services, crisis response, and collaboration with parents, teachers, and other professionals.

Anna earned her Master of Social Work from the University of Iowa and her Bachelor of Social Work from Loras College. She has additional training in crisis prevention and intervention, Mental Health First Aid, DIR/Floortime, and Theraplay-informed treatment.

Anna’s approach to therapy is warm, supportive, structured, and developmentally appropriate. She recognizes that children do not always communicate their thoughts and emotions through direct conversation, so she may incorporate play, creativity, movement, stories, humor, and shared interests into the therapeutic process.

Rather than focusing only on a child’s behavior, Anna works to understand what may be contributing to the behavior and helps children identify emotions, recognize patterns, strengthen coping skills, and develop more effective ways of responding to frustration, stress, and other challenges.

Anna also values caregiver involvement and works collaboratively with parents when appropriate. Her goal is to support parents with practical guidance while also providing children and adolescents with a therapeutic space in which they can develop independence, confidence, and trust.

Anna uses an individualized approach based on each client’s developmental level, strengths, needs, and treatment goals. Her treatment methods may include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), play-based interventions, art- and literature-based interventions, person-centered therapy, trauma-informed care, DIR/Floortime principles, and elements of Theraplay. 

Anna works with a range of concerns, including autism, ADHD, anxiety, depression, emotional and behavioral dysregulation, oppositional behaviors, aggression, trauma, low self-esteem, school-related difficulties, peer relationships, family stress, life transitions, and parenting or caregiving concerns.

She has particular experience working with neurodivergent children and adolescents and with families navigating behavioral concerns, school accommodations, special education services, and communication between home, school, and treatment providers.

 If you are seeking therapy for your child or adolescent and would like to determine whether Anna’s services may be a good fit for your family’s needs, please contact the office for next-step information.